Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for setting a patient position and/or at least one slice position

Abstract

In a method and magnetic apparatus for setting a patient position and/or at least one slice position of a target slice to be acquired in a scanner of the apparatus, at least two slices images showing localization slices of the patient, perpendicular to one another and with a defined position with respect to the homogeneity volume of the scanner, are acquired. At least one of the slice images is displayed on a touchscreen with at least one marker line showing the position of at least one other localization slice in the slice image. Following a relative displacement, described by displacement data, of at least one of the lines and the displayed slice image, by user interaction with the touchscreen, the patient position and/or the slice position of the target slice to be acquired are adapted in accordance with the displacement data.

I claim as my invention: 
     
         1 . A method for setting a position in a magnetic resonance scanner that has a patient receptacle with a basic magnetic field homogeneity volume in the patient receptacle, said position being selected from the group consisting of a patient position of a patient in the patient receptacle and a slice position of a target slice from which magnetic resonance data are to be acquired, said method comprising:
 operating the magnetic resonance apparatus, with the patient situated in the patient receptacle, to acquire the localization data representing two localization slices within the patient, said two localization slices being perpendicular to each other and having a defined position with respect to the homogeneity volume;   providing the localization data to a computer in communication with a touch screen;   in said computer, executing an algorithm to cause one of said two localization slices to be displayed on the touch screen together with a marker line that shows a position of the other of the two localization slices;   by user interaction with said touch screen, displacing at least one of said marker line and said slice image on said display screen to produce a relative displacement; and   in said computer, executing an algorithm to determine said position from said relative displacement, and making an electronic signal designating said position available as an output from said computer.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising acquiring said at least two localization slices as slices that perceive through a center of said homogeneity volume. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising selecting said at least two slice images as being respective slices from the group consisting of a transverse slice, a coronal slice and a sagittal slice. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising executing said user interaction as a displacement of the marker line on the slice image or a displacement of the slice image toward the marker line. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  comprising additionally displaying an operator element on said touch screen and using said operator element, by user interaction with said touch screen, to execute a precise adjustment of said displacement. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  comprising displaying said marker element on said touch screen superimposed on the slice image on the touch screen. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising after emitting said designation of said position from said computer, automatically effecting a change in said position only following a manual confirmation entered into said computer. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  comprising, from said computer, operating a patient support of the magnetic resonance scanner on which the patient is situated to cause said patient to be positioned corresponding to said position, and thereafter operating the magnetic resonance scanner to acquire a slice image at a position corresponding to a position of said marker line. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising simultaneously displaying said at least two slice images at said touch screen. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising operating a patient support of said magnetic resonance scanner using said position designated at said output of said computer. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising, in said computer by manual action via said touch screen, executing a zoom algorithm to perform an enlarged depiction of at least a portion of said slice image on said touch screen, and operating the magnetic resonance scanner to acquire an image of said at least one slice on said touch screen with a higher resolution corresponding to said zoom operation. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said touch screen is a first touch screen, and providing a second touch screen in communication with said computer, and respectively displaying each of said at least two localization images at said first and second touch screens together with a respective marker line representing the other of said at least two localization images. 
     
     
         13 . A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
 a magnetic resonance scanner having a patient receptacle adapted to receive a patient therein, said patient receptacle having a homogeneity volume;   a control computer in communication with a touch screen;   said control computer being configured to operate the magnetic resonance apparatus, with the patient situated in the patient receptacle, to acquire the localization data representing two localization slices within the patient, said two localization slices being perpendicular to each other and having a defined position with respect to the homogeneity volume;   said localization data being provided to said control computer, and said control computer being configured to execute an algorithm to cause one of said two localization slices to be displayed on the touch screen together with a marker line that shows a position of the other of the two localization slices;   said touchscreen being configured, by user interaction with said touch screen, to displace at least one of said marker line and said slice image on said display screen to produce a relative displacement; and   said control computer being configured to execute an algorithm to determine said position from said relative displacement, and to make an electronic signal designating said position available as an output from said computer.   
     
     
         14 . A magnetic resonance apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said touch screen is situated on said magnetic resonance scanner. 
     
     
         15 . A magnetic resonance apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said magnetic resonance scanner has a front side at which said patient is introduced into said patient receptacle of the magnetic resonance scanner, and wherein said touch screen is situated on said front side of said magnetic resonance scanner.